"Engaged?" Sookie repeated incredulously.

On the couch, seated across from her, Jason Lewis winced. "You don't have to sound so surprised, Sook. You could at least pretend to have guessed I was marriage material . . . considering you were the first girl I ever proposed to."

Sookie blushed. She had invited Jason over via text after she’d clocked off her shift, and had been surprised to find her ex already waiting on the porch of her rental with a six pack of beer. What started out as an awkward evening had quickly became more comfortable as they readjusted to one another . . . that is, until now.

"I didn't mean it that way, Jace. And I definitely didn't mean for you to bring up . . . you know."

Jason shook his head. "You don't have to tiptoe around my feelings. I'm over it. And from where I'm sitting, it looks like you've moved on, as well."

Sookie nodded. "I think so. Or at least, I've thought so all these years."

"Until you saw me," Jason guessed.

"Until I saw you," she agreed.

As if sensing their conversation would require more outside help, Jason rose to go get two more beers out of the fridge. Sookie toyed with the ends of her hair. It was too easy to touch it sometimes, to remember how long it had been once . . . and remember the girl who had worn it that way.

When Jason returned, she was sitting tall once more. She thanked him for the beer with a gracious nod as he sat back down. "It wasn't until I saw you that I realized I had left so much unsaid," she continued. "All these years, I thought Hank was the despicable one for leaving Lana the way he did. But I want you to know that I feel bad about the way I left things with us."

"You were young," Jason said. "We both were. And looking back now . . ." He eased back on the couch and rolled the beer between his hands thoughtfully. ". . . I asked too much of you. Actually, I asked the wrong things of you. I learned a lot from our relationship that I wasn't eager to repeat with Cheryl." Cheryl was Jason's fiancé.

"But you're getting married now," Sookie pointed out. "So you did wind up getting what you wanted, didn't you?"

"Yes." Jason smiled warmly, if a bit sadly. "But it took me longer than I like to admit to figure out what a bigger commitment, like marriage, is supposed to be. Cheryl helped me see that . . . and so did you. Yes, you," he reiterated when Sookie snorted and waved her hand. "I know it wasn't just the thought of being tied down to me that chased you away, Sookie. The life I thought I wanted with you . . . it wasn't a life that took who you were into consideration."

"I appreciate what you're saying. More than I can almost express. But I want you to know that you didn't chase me away, Jason," she said. "I ran away from Cedar Springs as hard and as fast as I could. Just like Hank did. I'm not above admitting it now. Thing is, I don't regret that I did. I'm sorry if that's harsh," she added quickly, but now it was Jason's turn to wave a hand. "But I needed to get away from everything I grew up with to become the person I am now. I felt like I was suffocating. I had to get away from this town and all its ghosts . . ."

"And you had to get away from me," he supplied.

Sookie shook her head, but it wasn't because she disagreed with what he said. "It's more what you were starting to represent. I know you wanted a wife, Jace, but it seemed to me that what you wanted was a traditional definition of the word. You wanted someone who would sit at home and take care of things while you were out actively contributing to society. Someone who was an accessory to your life, and not a partner."

Sookie relented a moment and watched him. Jason stared at his hands—no, at the place where his wedding ring would sit—in quiet contemplation.

"—but I don't think that's what you wound up settling for," she insisted. "You seem so much calmer now. So much happier than you were with me. And I know there's plenty to be said about strong women who want to stay at home, but I just couldn't be that person. After all those years spent trying to live up to my family's expectations . . . then Hank's, after they passed away . . . the thought of spending the remainder of my life trying to fit a mold royally freaked me out. So that's what I've been wanting to say to you all these years," Sookie concluded. "I'm sorry, and I'm not sorry. God, I was way more eloquent in my head."

"You've said everything exactly right," Jason replied. "Because it's how you really feel, Sookie. And don't take this as a criticism, but you haven't always been exactly forthcoming with what was actually on your mind. Something tells me you still may not be . . . which is why I appreciate everything you've just said to me all the more." He lifted his beer to her, and she leaned forward to clink hers to his. "Here's to the truth," he said.

"The truth," she agreed. She couldn't deny how relieved she felt to finally have it all out there between them. She hadn't been sure how this reunion would go, but this was definitely better than expected. Sookie smiled, more to herself than to the man sitting across from her, and sipped her beer.

“So, is that guy Chase your boyfriend?” Jason asked offhand.

Sookie choked and quickly set her beer aside. She tried again, and managed a pleasantly surprised scoff this time. “What?” She laughed and shook her head. “Chase is . . . I mean, Chase is a great guy.” A really great guy, the mutinous little voice in the back of her head, the one that didn’t understand the definition of the word fling, agreed. “We work together.”

“That’s not really an answer,” Jason pointed out. She’d always hated it when Jason pointed things out. "We just agreed to having no more secrets between us, right?"

“I’m sure he’d be a great boyfriend. He’s just not going to be . . . my boyfriend.”

“You want him to be?” Jason eyed her significantly over his bottle, then tipped it back to give her time to respond. Sookie knew he’d sit in her living room all night and sweat her for an answer until she came up with something convincing.

But Sookie wasn’t one to let Jason win anymore. She took up her own beer and crossed her arms. She made herself sphinx-like, keeper of riddles.

Jason laughed at her dismissive expression and rocked forward. “You really like him, don’t you?” he pressed. “Come on, Sook. I could see it plain as day on your face this morning before you saw me and looked like you wanted to run for the hills.”

“I did not look like I wanted to run for the hills, Jason.” She was determined not to let the two of them slip back into old roles. “And of course I like him. More than I thought I ever could, but . . .” She shook her head violently. “I don’t want to talk about it. Sorry.”

“Fair enough. I just want to see you happy, Sook.”

“I am happy,” she insisted. “I’m better than I’ve ever been, Jace. Promise.”

“I think I can drink to that.” They clinked beers and drank. Sookie noticed they were both smiling, and decided the evening had gone better than she could ever have expected. An hour and two beers later, they were outside on the front porch. Sookie swayed a little, not because she was particularly buzzed, but because the week's patrols were starting to catch up with her. She felt tired on her feet, but surprisingly stable emotionally.

Jason paused before descending the stairs and looked at her. "It was good to see you, Sook. Really," he emphasized. "I'm glad we got the chance to talk. After all these years . . . I never imagined I could feel closure about us."

He lingered, waiting for her to say something. A million and one thoughts still circled in her brain, most of them concerning Chase, but she thrust them aside to try and live in the moment. "It was good to see you, too, Jason," she said. When she beamed a smile his way, she meant it. "I look forward to meeting your fiancée."

"You'll love her. And she'll love you." He paused again, then held his arms out to her. "Come here."

Old habits died hard. She went to him, and they hugged. The warmth of Jason's embrace was a nice escape from the cool evening air, but not as powerful, not as right, as Chase's. She really needed to get over contrasting the two of them—it was like comparing oranges to . . . whatever they managed to grow out there in the Alaskan wilds. It wasn't Jason's fault that the man who now occupied her bed was proving hard to measure up to.

When Jason pulled away, Sookie rose up to kiss him on the cheek, followed by, "That never happened,” and a laugh. “Now get out of here before the landlady sees you!" She swatted his shoulder playfully as he departed with a chuckle and a shake of his head. "You know how small small towns are."

"I'm telling you, Sook, sometimes ours feels like the smallest. Have a good night," he said again, raising his hand in a wave. "Look out for yourself. I'm sure I'll run into you sooner rather than later."

"Watch the skies!" she called after him. "I'll be up there. And this time, Jason, I'll be looking out for you!"